[Book Reviews]

Abstract

THE little book by Vice-Admiral H. C. de Lacerda Castelo Branco on the climate of Madeira, or more precisely Funchal, an English translation of which is under notice, was written with the definite object of comparing the merits of the island with those of other favoured resorts, and it certainly contains a considerable amount of propaganda. Nevertheless the author, who was many years age director of the meteorological observatory at Lourenço Marques, has been at pains to embody in it much scientific data and to direct attention to the need for further investigations. Some thirty earlier publications, dating from 1811 onwards, are commented on briefly as a preface to his own ‘sketch’ based upon observations at Funchal since 1923 and official averages for 1916–35. Both sets of figures show the well-known characteristics of mild winters and moderately warm summers. From a table on p. 47, relating to the years 1923–32, the absolute maximum temperature in July (82·6° F.) appears lower than that in any of the other montlis from April to October. It may be noted in passing that this is doubtless due to the shortness of the period, as considerably higher values have been recorded in July.

The Climate of Madeira

With a Comparative Study. By Vice-Admiral Hugo C. de Lacerda Castelo Branco. Translated from the French by Dr. Alberto Figueira Jardim. Pp. 118+9 plates. (Madeira : Delegação do Turismo da Madeira, 1938.)